Yesterday’s reading was fairly dry, and I didn’t “get it” at the time. But as I read this, it’s making more sense.
Psalm 102 begins on a dark note. I must confess that I really can’t relate to what the author is sharing. I mean, I have had some difficult days, but nothing that comes close to what he’s describing here. This sounds like the combination of several catastrophes, a “perfect storm” of illness, disfavor, poverty and discouragement. Perhaps as you read this, you know exactly how it feels. Perhaps you have been there yourself, or possibly you are there right now.
There’s something about hard times that saps your strength. I find that I am more likely to engage in bad habits (eating junk food) when I am overstressed, or feeling down about something that didn’t go just right. My discouragement seems to lead me into even more discouragement, and if I’m not careful it can get out of hand.
That’s one reason I admire David. When he is discouraged or depressed, or feeling….whatever…he begins thinking about how powerful God is, which leads him to thinking about how good God is, and the promises God has made…and pretty soon he’s praising God, even as he is in the middle to difficult times. I mean, on one hand nothing has changed, but on the other hand he is completely different. He was focused on himself and his problems, and yet he emerges focused on the power of God and seemingly inspired.
I wonder if David’s men recognized this in him. I wonder if they saw him heading into his prayer room discouraged with his head down and smiled, saying “get ready for battle…when he comes out of there he’s going to be on fire.” I would like to experience that sort of fire myself. In fact, I don’t think I know of any serious Christian who wouldn’t.
I memorized psalm 103 at one time because I read somewhere that many martyrs began to quote it at the time of their death. Recently when I went back to fact check that belief I can’t find my reference. I wonder where I picked that idea up? It’s a great, inspiring verse that is sure to encourage anyone who takes the time to commit it to memory. Many times my troubles have been put into perspective by considering that “as for man, his days are like grass..the wind blows over it and it is no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him….” (from memory, probably not exact.)
Yes, “Let all that I am praise the Lord”!!
Psalm 104
You can almost see David staring up into the sky as he begins to praise, and then allowing his gaze to fall on the highest mountain peaks, remembering that they were once under water. As his eye traces down the side of the mountains, he praises God for the streams, and the wildlife and everything that grows. David is praising for whatever he sees, as he sees it. He recognizes that all provision comes from God, and as he is caught up in this moment of praise he utters some truths that get me wondering. He speaks of the great flood, and of sea monsters. Some people say that Leviathan, mentioned in the book of Job, is really a Hippo, or an alligator. But neither of them are out in the sea, in deep water like sailing ships. As I read David’s thoughts today I am convicted by the way I take all that God has done, and is doing around me, for granted. When is the last time I marveled at the intricate weaving of the universe? When is the last time I applauded God for giving the animals food to eat? I am often more upset that the deer are eating the tender shoots off my new apple trees than I am happy that God provided for them. As I read this today I realize that there is room for growth in my ability to praise. If praising were muscle, I wonder how strong I would be?
Faithfully,
PR